Running an affiliate business is already a painfully boring ride, but sometimes, the usual tactics for growing your revenue start to feel, well, a little stale. If you’re in that spot where you’re looking for something different, something that makes your business stand out and catch the attention of your customers, it’s time to go a bit wacky with your strategies.
There’s no need to stick to the same old formula when scaling up your affiliate business profitability. It’s time to shake things up with some unconventional ideas that add a bit of fun into the mix.
1. Turn Your Affiliate Links Into a Treasure Hunt
Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? People enjoy the thrill of searching for something hidden, and you can easily tap into that energy by gamifying your affiliate links.
- Create hidden links in your blog posts or social media content that send people on a scavenger hunt across your channels.
- Leave clues in your newsletter that lead your readers to specific pages where your affiliate products are mentioned.
- Reward those who find all the hidden links with exclusive discounts or personalized recommendations, making the experience more interactive.
Turning it into a game keeps things fun, and people are more likely to stick around, which could lead to more clicks and purchases. Plus, the added engagement helps to build some buzz around your content.
2. Use Ridiculously Themed Content for Promotion
Affiliate marketing doesn’t always have to be serious business. One way to grab attention is to pick a totally offbeat theme for your content that doesn’t even seem related to your product but still draws people in.
- Host a “space alien takeover” week on your blog, where all your posts have a galactic theme, and sneak in affiliate links that fit the storyline.
- Run a fake holiday campaign, like “National Pancake Lovers Day,” and tie in some related (or hilariously unrelated) products.
- Create an alter ego—like a 1950s detective character—and produce your affiliate content as though you're solving a mystery, with the products being your clues.
People love creative content that breaks from the norm. It’s easy to blend your affiliate products into the narrative without feeling like a sales pitch, and you get to show off some personality in the process.
3. Create Ridiculously Over-The-Top Testimonials
Most affiliate marketing revolves around reviews and testimonials, but what if you took it to the next level? Creating outrageous, over-the-top testimonials can be both hilarious and shareable, getting your affiliate products in front of more eyes.
- Write a review from the perspective of your dog or cat, and make it completely absurd—like, “My fur has never been this glossy thanks to this vacuum cleaner!”
- Make a video where you stage a mock battle between two products, with dramatic slow-mo shots, music, and even costumes.
- Host a parody awards show, giving your affiliate products “Best Newcomer,” “Most Likely to Succeed,” or “Best Supporting Product in a Blog Post.”
The key here is to get people laughing. When they share the content with their friends for a laugh, they’re also sharing your affiliate links without even realizing it.
4. Create a “Wheel of Discounts” for Your Readers
If you’re looking to boost conversions in a way that feels a little more like a game show, try out the “Wheel of Discounts” concept. People love feeling like they’re getting a deal, and adding an element of chance spices things up.
- Set up a virtual spinning wheel on your site that users can spin to receive random discount codes for the affiliate products you're promoting.
- Make it fun by adding not-so-serious options like “Try again!” or “Oops, no luck this time,” alongside the real discounts.
- Encourage users to come back for another spin by changing up the discounts or offers on a weekly basis.
You’re not just handing out deals, you’re giving people the excitement of “winning,” and that extra bit of fun might push them to make a purchase.
5. Collaborate with a Quirky Mascot
Sometimes, your content just needs a mascot to add some character and entertainment value. Think of a completely wacky mascot that becomes the face of your affiliate promotions.
- If you’re selling tech gadgets, maybe a grumpy robot named “Chip” delivers all your product reviews with a side of sass.
- For fitness products, you could introduce “Gertie the Gym Ghost,” who only shows up when your audience has skipped their workout.
- Selling kitchen tools? How about “Chef Carl,” a talking frying pan with a bad attitude, throwing shade at anyone who doesn’t use his favorite affiliate products?
A mascot adds a memorable and fun personality to your content, which gives your readers something to look forward to beyond just another product pitch. They’ll associate your quirky mascot with the products you’re promoting, and it becomes an inside joke that they’re in on.
6. Host a Live “Roast” of Your Affiliate Products
Instead of just listing the features and benefits of your affiliate products, why not roast them? People love content that’s a bit irreverent, and hosting a live roast could bring a whole new level of entertainment to your affiliate business.
- Set up a live-stream event where you poke fun at the products, cracking jokes about their quirks or odd design features.
- Get your readers or viewers involved by asking them to submit their own “roast” jokes about the product, with the best one winning a small prize.
- Even though it’s all in good fun, you’ll be showcasing the products in a memorable way, and your audience will remember them even after the roast is over.
By taking an unconventional, humorous approach, you get people interested in the product without relying on the usual sales tactics. People tend to trust brands that don’t take themselves too seriously, so why not use that to your advantage?
7. Start a Fake Rivalry With Another Affiliate Marketer
Sometimes, competition makes things more interesting. You could stage a friendly but fake rivalry with another affiliate marketer, turning it into content gold.
- Start by playfully “calling out” the other affiliate in a blog post or social media, poking fun at how their affiliate links don’t stand a chance against yours.
- Create a series of “showdowns,” where you both compare products you’re promoting, and make it humorous by hyping it up as though it’s the battle of the century.
- Encourage your readers to “choose sides,” with a fun poll or giveaway that further fuels the rivalry.
It’s all in good humor, but it makes the affiliate products the centerpiece of a narrative that your readers can follow along with. Plus, the rivalry encourages engagement and shares, meaning more eyes on your content.
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8. Use Outlandish Gimmicks to Push Products
Sometimes, you just need to pull out all the stops and go full-on wacky with your affiliate marketing strategy. This could mean using gimmicks that catch people’s attention and get them curious about what’s happening.
- For every affiliate link click, promise to do something ridiculous like share an embarrassing childhood photo or perform a quirky dance on your Instagram stories.
- Set up a challenge where for every sale made, you’ll add another layer of crazy to a live-stream stunt, like dressing up as your favorite character and staying in costume for the whole day.
- Use bizarre, eye-catching images to promote your affiliate links, such as dressing up as the product itself or using visual puns that tie into what you’re selling.
People love watching something out of the ordinary, and these kinds of gimmicks get shared fast. They’re fun, they’re memorable, and they don’t feel like a sales tactic, which draws in more people to click on your links.
When it comes to affiliate marketing, thinking outside the box is often what makes the biggest difference in your profitability. By adding a dose of humor, creativity, and even a bit of absurdity, you make your affiliate business something people want to keep coming back to—if only to see what you’ll do next.
